Nc'nean 2019

Mmm, not bad; but it is very similar in terms of aroma to its predecessor (Woodland Candy). Yeah, the barrel composition is quite similar, what do you expect? Well... For around 90+ euros I was hoping for or expecting more 'experimentation'. Don't get me wrong, it's well made and offers a lot and I like Nc'Nean (a lot!), but it's not worth the price. I would have liked more risk in the composition or with the yeasts: the yeasts (Anchor and Fermentis) are identical to the core batches; they experimented more with the Woodland Candy. So all in all: it's OK, but much too expensive for what it offers. Sorry Nc'Nean. [86 - 82 = good whisky -> get (second) bottle? Maybe...]

tasted at Whisky in Leiden 2024, 1st of June 2024 pleasant, pear with the slightest touch of smoke

I found this a little too harsh - slightly bitter - the cask seems to have drowned out the spirit. I would probably gift this on to someone else if given a bottle.

08-09-2024

Nose: rainier cherries, apple-bananas and fruit liquorice, campinos and battenbergs, california semi-dried plums and red toffoes Palate: tinned cherries and stewed tea, dried peaches and datterini tomatoes, ile flottante Finish: bergamot and aniseed, eve's pudding, poached apples with orange juice With water Nose: sultanas and golden caster sugar, dried banana coins, patchouli and cafe latte Palate: turkish green grapes and crystallised ginger, candied pineapple Finish: tobacco, cedar and jujubes Tasted as part of a SWC tasting with Master Blender Matt

Shoemaker's fruit tart The Huntress is an annual release from Nc'nean, launched in 2022, so this is the third. Called Orchard Cobbler, it was crafted using 66% STR red wine casks, 31% ex-bourbon casks and 3% ex-sherry casks. It was bottled at a slightly higher 48.5% ABV. It's an open secret that I've been a fan of this house from the very beginning, let me just say that up front. No idea what Orchard Cobbler means, as it literally means 'orchard cobbler'. Right? The orchard fruit is immediately noticeable on the nose. Think apples, pears and mirabelles but also peach, apricot and quince. Quite a bit of mint, I must say. Late vanilla. Very fresh, playful and accessible, as I am used to from Nc'nean, although there is also a touch of freshly scrubbed leather. Could that be where the 'cobbler' comes from? Nicely oily on the tongue and immediately playfully sweet but with a lot of spiciness. Think nutmeg, but mainly cloves. Grapes, raisins, apples, pears, quince and mirabelles appear, while the wood also starts to speak. It even becomes relatively loud, which makes this young malt a tad bitter. Fortunately it remains juicy enough not to become astringent. I find it all fine, again. It is in the aftertaste that you notice that there is too much bitterness, which makes this malt end up a bit dry, but above all very bitter. Well, I don't care about that last bit (see what I did there?) and I'm thoroughly enjoying this summery whisky. PS. Just got back from Scotland and learned that a cobbler is also a fruit tart… Doh!

I’m not sure the STR casks are doing this spirit any favours.

Tasted on Wed 22nd May 2024 as part of a Drinkmonger Nc’Nean Whisky 4 dram vertical with Matthew Hastings (https://www.drinkmonger.com/nc-nean-organic-whisky-distillery-tasting-with-matthew-hastings-wednesday-22nd-may/). Important to note that the whisky was poured and thus able to breath for 30 mins or so before the tasting and seems to have benefitted hugely from this. Colour: Bright gold.